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Our research on the number of concealed handgun permits received coverage at NPR stations across the country. The number of concealed handgun permits provides some perspective to the 3,896 guns found by people at airports.

According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, a conservative nonprofit, more than 17.2 million people have concealed handgun permits in 2018, up more than 5 percent this year.

At an annual rate, the US is on track to have 2,624 firearms found in carry-on bags at airport checkpoints, an 18.6 percent increase over the previous year. Fairly close to the 15 percent increase in the number of concealed handgun permits, and that this doesn’t count that there are three more states that no longer permits to carry concealed in their states. …